Adjusting device

ABSTRACT

Infinitely operating two-way adjusting device having a rive element 1, an output element 2 adjustable in angle by operating the drive element 1, and a stepped switching mechanism mounted between the drive and output elements 1, 2 which contains a fixing device which when the adjusted position is reached by operating the drive element 1 blocks rotation of the output element 2 opposite the direction of rotation of the drive element 1. The infinite stepped switching mechanism has a coupling device 5, 6 which is connected to the output element and during operation of the drive element 1 can be connected in force-locking engagement with same, and has a brake device 3, 7 which when the drive element 1 is resting blocks the coupling element 5, 6 with force-locking engagement. (FIG. 1).

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to an infinitely operating two-way adjustingdevice according to the preamble of claim 1.

From DE 36 08 858 A1 an adjustable and fixable stepped switchingmechanism for adjusting the seat height or backrest rake of vehicleseats is known which has a first articulated arm serving as a frame inwhich a shaft is mounted which is connected rotationally secured to asecond articulated arm, and a toothed setting wheel for adjustment aswell as an operating arm with two entrainment members. Between the shaftand setting wheel there are two coil springs which resiliently adjoin abush socket and are arranged in opposite directions and with play oneach side adjoin the shaft through one end area and a stop rotationallyconnected to the setting wheel by the other end area. When the operatingarm is swivelled, achieved by swivelling to and fro (`pumping`) a handlerigidly connected to the operating arm, the stop first strikes the coilspring which would lock rotation of the shaft in the same rotarydirection, then during continued swivel movement unlocks this coilspring and transfers the further swivel movement to the shaft.

As a result of the toothed engagement between the entrainment membersand the toothed setting wheel the self-locking stepped switchingmechanism known from DE 36 08 858 A1 allows solely a stepped adjustmentof the seat height or backrest rake. Furthermore as a result of itsspecial method of functioning the known stepped switching mechanism doesnot allow any variation in the structural shape for differentinstallation depths and transmission ratios of the force transfer fromthe operating lever to the shaft.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-lockingstepped switching mechanism of the kind already mentioned which iscapable of infinite adjustment and which can be manufacturedcost-effectively and in different variations through a modularconstruction and the ability to use punched and deep drawn parts.

This is achieved according to the invention through the features ofclaim 1.

The solution according to the invention allows an infinite adjustment ofthe self-locking stepped switching mechanism and enables through themodular construction and the ability to use punched and deep drawn partsa cost-effective effective manufacture and different structural shapesto be produced for the different structural depths, surfaces andtransmission ratios.

In order to produce a flat adjusting device having a minimal diameterthe coupling device is mounted concentric with the brake device.

As an alternative the coupling device can be mounted coaxial and axiallyoff-set relative the brake device. This embodiment is characterised byan overall small diameter and is particularly suitable for assemblieswhere there is restricted radial space.

In a further alternative the coupling device and the brake device can bemounted side by side and connected together through a positive lockingconnection device whereby a translation is produced between the driveand output side of the adjusting device which on the one hand minimisesthe play on the drive side of the adjusting device and on the otherproduces practically any type of transmission ratio between the driveand output side for adjusting the drive force or adjustment path.

An advantageous development of the solution according to the inventionis characterised in that the infinitely operating stepped switchingmechanism contains a resetting device which when the coupling device isblocked moves the drive element back into the starting position prior tothe adjustment movement.

Resetting the drive element when the coupling device is blocked makes`pumping` easier in a setting of the drive element which is advantageousfor the user, whereby the infinite adjustment allows any type of angularsetting of the drive element.

One design of the coupling device is characterised by an entrainmentmember mounted coaxial with the drive axis of the drive element and by adrive spring, formed as a loop spring, embracing the entrainment memberand connected in keyed engagement with the drive element.

The coaxial arrangement of the entrainment member in relation to thedrive axis of the drive element and its force-locking connection duringoperation of the drive element with the drive spring produces theprerequirements for different structural shapes of the adjusting deviceand a simple and cost-effective construction of the adjusting device.The individual component parts can thereby be formed substantially asdeep drawn parts so that a simple inexpensive production of theadjusting device is guaranteed.

An advantageous design of the brake device is characterised by a brakespring, formed as a loop spring, connected in keyed engagement with theentrainment member and the output element and adjoining withforce-locking engagement a locally fixed housing part when the driveelement is resting.

This design of the brake device also allows different structural shapesof the adjusting device with a simple cost-effective design of the brakemodule for an infinite stepped switching mechanism.

An advantageous design of the resetting module is characterised by aresetting spring adjoining a shackle of the locally fixed housing partand a shackle of a rotatable sleeve mounted coaxial with the drive axisof the drive element wherein the sleeve is connected in keyed engagementwith the drive spring by a shackle and lifts the force-locking contactbetween the drive spring and entrainment member when the drive force isterminated.

Different structural forms of the self-locking rotary joint fitment canbe initially a flat design or a narrow design and a design havingdifferent translation of the drive torque.

The idea on which the invention is based will now be explained infurther detail with reference to the examples illustrated in thedrawings although the concrete embodiment of the inventive idea is notrestricted to these examples. In the drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a cross-sectional view and longitudinal sectionalview through a self-locking rotary joint fitment of flat construction;

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view through a self-locking rotaryjoint fitment of narrow construction; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a side view and longitudinal sectional view through aself-locking rotary joint fitment having a transmission gearing betweenthe drive and output element.

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section and FIG. 2 a cross-section throughan infinitely operating two-way adjusting device having an infinitestepped switching mechanism. For better distinction a part of thefunction elements of the adjusting device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2is shown shaded and dotted.

The adjusting device has a drive element 1 which comprises a drive lever11 and a drive axis 12 capable of rotating about the rotary axis 10.Coaxial with the drive axis 12 is an output element 2 which consists ofa pinion 21 and an output claw 22 connected to the pinion 21 and havingstops 23, 24 which oppose the arms of a brake spring 7. The pinionmeshes in a manner not shown in further detail with for example thetoothed segment of an articulated arm 20 which can be part of a seatheight or backrest rake adjusting device in vehicle seats.

Concentric with the drive axis 12 is a coupling device which consists ofa dish-shaped entrainment member 5 and a drive spring 6 which is formedas a loop spring. The arms 61, 62 of the drive spring 6 adjoin recessesor stops 13, 14 of the drive axis 12 and are displaced during operationof the drive lever 11 in one or other adjustment direction through thestops 13, 14 of the drive axis 12 to expand the drive spring 6 so thatthis adjoins with force-locking engagement against the inner side of thecylindrical part of the dish-shaped entrainment member 5.

A brake device consisting of a brake spring 7 formed as a loop spring,and a housing part 3, acting as a brake housing, is likewise mountedconcentric with the drive axis 12 of the drive element 1. The arms 71,72 of the brake spring have a minimum play relative to the stops 51, 52of the entrainment member 5 and have a greater play relative to thestops 23, 24 of the output claw 22. Since the brake spring 7 in the reststate, i.e. when the drive lever 11 is not activated, adjoins with forcelocking engagement against the inner wall of the cylindrical part of thedish-shaped brake housing 3, with a slight rotary movement of theentrainment member 5 the brake spring 7 is reduced or compressed in itsouter diameter and thus the force-locking contact against the inner wallof the housing part or brake housing 3 is lifted.

A rotatable sleeve 8 is likewise provided concentric with the drive axis12 and is formed dish-shaped and has a first entrainment shackle 81which abuts with play against the arms 61, 62 of the drive spring 6. Asecond outwardly angled entrainment shackle 82 serves to bear against aresetting spring 9 which is mounted concentric with the drive axis 12and is placed around the outer wall of the cylindrical part of the brakehousing 3 with its arms 91, 92 adjoining both the second entrainmentshackle 82 of the rotatable sleeve 8 and the shackle 30 of the brakehousing 3.

The method of functioning of the adjusting device having the infinitestepped switching mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 will now beexplained.

In the rest position, i.e. when the drive lever 11 is not activated, thedrive spring 6 adjoins--as already explained--the inner wall of theentrainment member 5 with force-locking engagement, and the brake spring7 adjoins the inner wall of the brake housing 3 with force-lockingengagement. During activation of the drive lever 11 the drive axis 12 isdeflected in the one or other rotary direction and with one or otherstop 13, 14, which form with play a positive locking connection with thearms 61, 62 of the drive spring 6, causes the drive spring 6 to widenout so that it bears against the entrainment member 5 with force-lockingaction. As a result of the positive locking connection of the arms 61,62 of the drive spring 6 with the stops 13, 14 of the drive axis 12 theentrainment member 5 follows the rotary movement of the drive axis 12.

The positive locking connection of the stops 51, 52 of the entrainmentmember 5 with the arms 71, 72 of the brake spring 7 causes, duringdeflection of the entrainment member 5, the brake spring 7 to compressso that this is released from its force-locking engagement against theinner wall of the brake housing 3 and the entrainment member followssubstantially unbraked the rotary movement of the drive axis 12 andtransfers this rotary movement to the output element 2 throughpositive-locking contact of the entrainment member 5 against the shackle22 of the pinion 21. During rotary movement of the entrainment member 5the brake spring 7 thereby slips with friction action on the brakehousing 3.

Since the arms 91, 92 of the resetting spring on one side adjoin theshackle 30 of the brake housing 3 and on the other side the secondentrainment shackle 82 of the sleeve 8 and the first entrainment shackle81 of the rotatable sleeve 8 is connected with play to the arms 61, 62of the drive spring 6, during rotary movement of the drive lever 11 andthus of the drive axis 12 the resetting spring 9 is tensioned and therotatable sleeve 8 is thereby pretensioned against the brake housing 3.As a result of this pretension the rotatable sleeve 8 is turned backinto its starting position when the drive force on the drive lever 11 isterminated. The sleeve thereby compresses with its first entrainmentshackle 81 the drive spring 6 in both rotary directions so that theforce-locking connection between the drive spring 6 and the entrainmentmember 5 is lifted.

The drive axis 12, which is connected through the first entrainmentshackle 81 of the rotatable sleeve 8 with play to the rotatable sleeve8, and thus the drive lever 11 follow the resetting movement of therotatable sleeve 8 as a result of the spring force of the resettingspring 9 until the relaxed state of the resetting spring 9 is reached.

As a result of the compression of the drive spring 6 through the firstentrainment shackle 81 of the rotatable sleeve 8 and the resultinglifting of the force-locking contact between the drive spring 6 andentrainment member 5, the entrainment member 5 and the shackle 22 of theoutput element 2 connected rotationally secured to the pinion 21 areuncoupled from the resetting movement of the sleeve 8 as well as thedrive axis 12 and drive lever 11 so that the output element 2 is lockedin the deflected position.

If a greater torque acts on the output element 2 than on the driveelement 1 then the contact bearing edges 23, 24 of the claw 22 connectedto the pinion 21 abut the arms 71, 72 of the brake spring 7 in thedirection of widening the brake spring 7 so that their force-lockingcontact against the inner wall of the brake housing 3 is intensified andthus the moment acting on the pinion 21 of the output element 2 isblocked.

This effect also occurs if at the end of the adjustment movement of thedrive lever 11 the resetting of the drive lever 11 takes place in themanner described above and the entrainment member 5 and thus the pinion21 are uncoupled from the resetting movement. A torque exerted on thepinion 21 during the resetting movement of the drive lever 11 wouldimmediately result in the brake spring 7 contacting the brake housing 3with force-locking action so that the pinion 21 of the output element 2locks in the deflected position. Only a movement of the drive lever 11in the opposite direction would lead to a return of the deflectionposition of the output element 2 in the manner described above.

The embodiment shown in longitudinal section in FIG. 3 is characterisedby its overall small diameter and is particularly suitable forarrangement where there is reduced radial space. In this embodiment theindividual structural groups, more particularly the spring elements, arearranged not concentrically but coaxially with the drive axis 12 orrotary axis 10. The interaction of the individual function modules ofthis adjusting device corresponds however to the method of operationachieved in connection with the embodiment described above.

The drive lever 11 has a pin 15 mounted coaxial with the axis ofrotation 10 and forming a first stop 16 for the arm 61 of a drive spring6 mounted concentric with the pin 15. A shackle 17 of the drive lever 11adjoins the second arm 62 of the drive spring 6 so that duringactivation of the drive lever 11 in the one or other rotary directionthe drive spring 6 pretensioned on the drive axis 12 is connected inforce-locking engagement with the drive axis 12.

The drive axis 12 entrains the entrainment member 5 which is connectedin keyed engagement therewith and whose claws 51, 52 adjoin the arms 71,72 of the brake spring 7 which adjoins the brake housing 3 withforce-locking engagement in the relaxed state. Through the action of theentrainment member 5 on the brake spring 7 this is released from itsforce-locking connection on the brake housing 3 so that the torqueexerted by the drive lever 11 is transferred to the entrainment member 5so that the entrainment member follows substantially unbraked the rotarymovement of the drive axis 12 and transfers this rotary movement to theoutput element 2 through the keyed connection between the entrainmentmember 5 and the shackle 22 of the pinion 21. During rotary movement ofthe entrainment member 5 the brake spring 7 thereby slips with slightfriction action on the brake housing 3.

The resetting spring 9 mounted concentric with a part of the drive axis12 adjoins with its arms 91, 92 the shackles 81 of the rotatable sleeve8 as well as the housing cover 4. The sleeve 8 is furthermore connectedthrough the shackle 81 to the arm 62 of the drive spring 6 so that atthe end of the adjustment movement through the drive lever 11 in thefollowing resetting movement as a result of the pretension of theresetting spring 9 between the housing cover 4 and the rotatable sleeve8 or the drive axis 12 the rotatable sleeve 8 is moved back into therotary direction opposite the adjustment movement and the drive spring 6is relaxed through the shackle 81 and the arm 62 so that this spring isreleased from its force-locking connection against the drive axis 12. Asa result of the resetting movement of the resetting spring 9 the drivelever 11 is reset in the starting position without the drive axis 12 andthus the entrainment member 5 and consequently the pinion 21 being movedalong as well.

During the resetting movement or in the event of a torque on the outputside which exceeds the torque on the drive side, the shackle 22 of thepinion 21 acts directly on the arms 71, 72 of the brake spring 7 wherebythe brake spring 7 is expanded. The brake spring 7 thereby moves withforce-locking connection against the brake housing 3 and the torqueexerted by the pinion 21 is immediately broken down.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 shows a structural form witha transmission between the drive and output sides of the adjustingdevice which on the one hand minimises the play on the drive side of theadjusting device and on the other causes a transmission ratio ofpractically any kind between the drive and output sides for adjustingthe drive force or adjustment path.

In this embodiment the drive spring 6 and the brake spring 7 are mountedside by side and are connected together through a divided entrainmentmember 5 whose entrainment parts 5a and 5b which are preferably formedas punched parts are coupled in keyed connection with each other througha toothed segment or toothed disc connection. The drive lever 11 actsthrough a shackle 13 or the lever end 18 on the arms 61, 62 of the drivespring 6 and draws the drive spring 6 with an adjustment movement ontothe first entrainment part 5a and causes through the force-lockingconnection of the drive spring 6 with the cylindrical part of the firstentrainment part 5a a transfer of the drive movement exerted by thedrive lever 11 to the first entrainment part 5a. At the same time thedrive force is transferred to the rotatable sleeve 8 whose rotationpretensions the resetting spring 9 with its arm ends 91, 92 between therotatable sleeve 8 and the housing part 30.

The drive movement of the first entrainment part 5a is transferredthrough the gearing of the two entrainment parts 5a and 5b to the otherentrainment part 5b which by bearing against the arms of the brakespring 7 compresses the brake spring 7 and thus releases it from itsforce-locking connection with the housing part 31. With the slippingconnection of the brake spring 7 against the housing part 31 the secondentrainment part 5b can thereby follow unrestrictedly the drive movementand can transfer this through the keyed connection of the secondentrainment part 5b with the pinion 21 to said pinion 21.

In the event of torque exerted on the pinion 21 which is greater thanthe torque on the drive side the rotary movement starting from thepinion 21 causes the brake spring 7 to expand so that this adjoins thehousing part 31 with force locking engagement and thus directly breaksdown the torque emanating from the pinion 21.

In the resetting phase the resetting spring 9 acts in the mannerdescribed above on the rotatable sleeve 8 which widens out the drivespring 6 and thus lifts the coupling with the first entrainment part 5a.The drive lever 11 is reset through the shackle 81 adjoining theresetting spring 9.

The features of the invention are not restricted to the embodimentsdescribed above but extend to combinations of the variations describedand those designs which deviating from the design features describedabove utilise the function elements, more particularly the functionmodules of the self-locking infinite stepped switching mechanismaccording to the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An infinitely operating two-way adjusting devicecomprising:a drive element; an output element, that is adjustable inangle in one or other rotary direction during rotary movement of thedrive element; and a stepped switching mechanism mounted between thedrive and the output elements; wherein the stepped switching mechanismcontains a coupling device in force-locking engagement with the outputelement during operation of the drive element and a brake device whichblocks the coupling device with force-locking engagement, when the driveelement is resting or when torque is introduced on the output side;wherein the coupling device has a drive spring in active connection withthe drive element, and which during operation of the drive element isconnected in force-locking engagement with an entrainment member of thecoupling device and transfers a rotary movement of the drive element (1)to the entrainment member; and wherein the brake device has a brakespring connected in keyed engagement with the entrainment member and theoutput element and, when the drive element is resting or in the event oftorque on the output side, is supported with force-locking engagement ona locally fixed housing of the adjusting device.
 2. An adjusting deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the drive spring and the brake spring areloop springs adjoining with force locking engagement to surfaces of theentrainment member and of the housing, respectively, which are formed tomatch the shape of the loop springs.
 3. An adjusting device according toclaim 1 wherein the drive element includes a drive axis; andwherein theentrainment member is mounted coaxial with the drive axis of the driveelement, is formed in a claw-like shape and engages with a claw-likecoupling element on the output side.
 4. An adjusting device according toclaim 1 wherein the stepped switching mechanism contains a resettingdevice, which, after an adjusting movement, returns the drive element toa starting position before a next adjusting movement.
 5. An adjustingdevice according to claim 4 wherein the resetting device includes aresetting spring bearing on a shackle of the locally fixed housing andon a first shackle of a rotatable sleeve mounted coaxial with a driveaxis of the drive element; andwherein the sleeve is connected through asecond shackle in keyed engagement with the drive spring and lifts theforce-locking contact between the drive spring and the entrainmentmember when the drive force is terminated.
 6. An adjusting deviceaccording to claim 5 wherein the sleeve, the entrainment member and thehousing part are cylinders arranged concentric with each other aroundthe drive axis of the drive element;wherein the drive spring includestwo arms and is mounted around the sleeve and engages by its arms thedrive axis; wherein the entrainment member has at least a pair ofcontact bearing edges for receiving at least a pair of arms of the brakespring, which embraces at least partially the entrainment member;wherein the housing part encloses the brake spring; wherein on a part ofthe circumference of the entrainment member at least a claw of theoutput element stops against the arms of the brake spring.
 7. Anadjusting device according to claim 5 wherein the resetting spring isformed as a loop spring and encloses the housing part; andwherein atleast a pair of arms of the resetting spring adjoin the shackle of thehousing on one side and the first shackle of the rotatable sleeve on theother side.
 8. An adjusting device according to claim 1 wherein a driveaxis of the drive element, the housing part, the rotatable sleeve, theentrainment member and the output element are formed substantiallycylindrically-shaped and arranged coaxial relative to each other;whereinthe drive spring is mounted between the concentric parts of the outputelement and the rotatable sleeve and the drive spring is connected inkeyed engagement by its arms with shackles of the drive element and therotatable sleeve; and wherein the brake spring is mounted betweenconcentric parts of the housing part and the entrainment member andadjoins shackles of the entrainment member by its arms.
 9. An adjustingdevice according to claim 5 wherein the resetting spring is formed as aloop spring and encloses the drive axis; andwherein at least a pair ofarms of the resetting spring adjoin the shackle of the housing on oneside and the first shackle of the rotatable sleeve on the other side.10. An adjusting device according to claim 1 wherein the drive elementcomprises a drive axis; andwherein the drive element, the rotatablesleeve, the entrainment member and the output element are arranged insuccession in the direction of the drive axis.
 11. An adjusting deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the drive element comprises a drive axis;andwherein a first housing part, the drive spring and a firstentrainment member are arranged coaxial relative to the drive axis ofthe drive element; wherein a second housing part, the brake spring and asecond entrainment member are arranged coaxial relative to the axis ofthe output element; and wherein the first entrainment member and thesecond entrainment member are connected together.
 12. An adjustingdevice according to claim 11 wherein the axial assembly of the firsthousing part (30), the drive spring (6) and the first entrainment memberis next to the axial assembly of the second housing part, brake springand second entrainment member.